Tag: #discernment

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Allergens

…to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil (Hebrews 5:14 KJV).

I have never been diagnosed with sinusitis nor a sinus infection but, I have had some serious allergy problems during certain seasons. A few years ago, I was out of school for a couple of days because of allergies. My allergic reaction was so bad that my usual dose of Zyrtec could not relieve the symptoms. I had to get a butt shot (OUCH!!) to be able to return to school.

During the spring and summer months, my immune system goes into major battle mode. For at least half of the year, my body wages war against allergens. An allergen is any substance that triggers the immune system, causing an allergic reaction. Some allergens include dust, mold, pollen, and pet dander. Although harmless, they are recognized by my immune system as harmful. Whenever they are present in my environment, my immune system overreacts producing antibodies to attack and destroy them, thus defending the body from this invasion.

The battle is evident by the symptoms manifesting in my body: sneezing, watery eyes, itching eyes, ears, roof of mouth, throat and nose, congestion, runny nose, and sometimes wheezing. The severity of the symptoms are determined by the type and amount of allergens encountered and by how my immune system decides to react to them. So now, I can tell when there is an allergen in my environment. I may not be able to identify its source or what exactly it is, but I know it is present. How do I know? The symptoms.

However, although these allergens are harmless, there are microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi that do pose a real threat to the body. The immune system is given to us to defend the body, by keeping these invaders out or by destroying infections caused by those invaders that successfully gain entrance.

As in the natural so it is in the spiritual. There are things in our spiritual environment that triggers our spiritual immune system to go into battle-mode. I want my spiritual system to be so sensitive that I can detect when the adversary or his agents are in my environment. I want to be acquainted with the symptoms that will inform my understanding that a battle is raging in my spiritual atmosphere. I want to be aware of when there is a need to launch an attack, neutralize the potency of every would-be invader, and stop their advancement, causing them to retreat. This sensitivity will guarantee maintenance of my spiritual health and wellbeing.

One of the ways that I can gain such sensitivity is by growing from being a babe in Christ that can only handle milk into the woman that God had designed and equipped me to be; that perfected woman – one who is of full age – skilful in the word of righteousness. This acquired skill develops by reason of use, that is by having my senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Hebrews 5: 13-14 KJV).

Heavenly Father, please help me to grow up. Help me in this discovery of who I am to find myself in Your word and be transformed. May I become able to handle the strong meat of Your word. Help me to practice living by Your word daily so that by reason of use, I can have my senses exercised to detect the invaders in my atmosphere and be successful as a warrior in Your kingdom. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!

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CARRIERS: Make That Right Connection!

If you look at me, you would never know it, but I am a carrier of the sickle cell disease (SCD). I have inherited one sickle cell gene from my mother and a normal gene from my father, so I have what they call the sickle cell trait (SCT). For the most part, I do not have any of the symptoms of SCD, but I can pass the trait on to my children. One of my three biological children have inherited SCT and now has the potential of passing it on to her children.

Of my mother’s three biological children, I am the only one who inherited a sickle cell gene. I am the only carrier. When she was pregnant with me, she was not knowledgeable of the fact that she had the SCD. However, her lack of knowledge did not prevent her from passing that gene to me. Without her knowledge and without her permission, that gene was passed on. Why? Because she is a carrier. Now I am a carrier and my eldest daughter is also a carrier.

If you are reading this, then you are a carrier. In fact, God has designed every living organism to be a carrier. None of us can begin to comprehend all that we are carrying. The possibilities are infinite but materialization of what we are carrying become evident when we make connections. Our connections determine the physical expressions or observable characteristics of what we are carrying.

My father does not have any sickle genes. If he had married a woman who also did not have any sickle genes, then he would never have produced a child with SCT. On the other hand, if my mother had married a man with SCD, like herself, then all of her children would have had SCD.

The physical expressions or observable characteristics of what we are carrying are dependent on our connections. The connection can be physical, like a marital connection or a business connection. On the other hand, the connection can be spiritual, like connecting with the Holy Spirit.

Abraham understood that God had separated him and had chosen his lineage to be the carriers of the Promised Seed. So, when it was time for his son Isaac to be connected to a wife, Abraham was sure to let God handpick that connection. We can think of other connections:

  1. David, whose connection to some vagabond men described as in distress, in debt, and discontented, produce his mighty men of valor, renowned in scripture (1 Samuel 22:2)
  2. Naomi and Ruth, whose connection produced a faithful daughter of the God of Israel.
  3. Paul and Timothy, whose connection transformed a timid young man into a bold bishop of the church of Ephesus.
  4. Aquila, Priscila and Apollos, whose connection produced a mighty evangelist for the kingdom.

Of all the connections we can have, the Holy Spirit is the one that we should first pursue to see the manifestation of the will of God. Scripture teaches of the role of the Holy Spirit in bringing revelation to us of those things that God has already prepared for us when He created us as his workmanship; those things that we are carrying buried within us. The word of the Lord declares in

1 Corinthians 2: 6-11 (TPT)
However, there is a wisdom that we continually speak of when we are among the spiritually mature. It’s wisdom that didn’t originate in this present age, nor did it come from the rulers of this age who are in the process of being dethroned. 

Instead, we continually speak of this wonderful wisdom that comes from God, hidden before now in a mystery. It is his secret plan, destined before the ages, to bring us into glory.

None of the rulers of this present world order understood it, for if they had, they never would have crucified the Lord of shining glory.

This is why the Scriptures say: Things never discovered or heard of before, things beyond our ability to imagine – these are the many things God has in store for all his lovers.

But God now unveils these profound realities to us by the Spirit. Yes, he has revealed to us his inmost heart and deepest mysteries through the Holy Spirit, who constantly explores all things.

After all, who can really see into a person’s heart and know his hidden impulses except for that person’s spirit? So it is with God. His thoughts and secrets are only fully understood by his Spirit, the Spirit of God.

Ephesians 2:10 (TPT) – We have become his poetry, a re-created people that will fulfill the destiny he has given each of us, for we are joined to Jesus, the Anointed One. Even before we were born, God planned in advance our destiny and the good works we would do to fulfill it!

Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV) – For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

When you make the right connections and create environments conducive to growth, i.e. conducive to the activity of God, you would be amazed at the change that can be effected in the earth. When we connect with the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, we create such an environment and are then able to birth forth the things that God has ordained us to.

Would you make that right connection today?

DIG DEEPER:
1. Devotional: What are you carrying?
2. Bible Study: CARRIERS: Authorized Transportation Agents